Calgary water park shut down after E. coli outbreak
Its closure comes on the heels of the Chinook Winds spray park in Airdrie also being shut down after failing water quality tests.
Author: Quinn Patrick
A water park in Calgary has been shut down in response to three cases of E. coli being linked to the facility, with Alberta Health Services warning that anyone who visited the park between July 25 and Aug. 4 may have been affected.
The Prairie Winds water park is operated by the City of Calgary, and while cleaning at the site began over the weekend, it will remain closed until the end of the week.
Its closure comes on the heels of the Chinook Winds spray park in Airdrie also being shut down after failing water quality tests.
According to AHS, a closure notice posted Friday states water samples taken over the aforementioned period showed bacterial counts that were well above acceptable levels.
For example, swimming pool standards require a heterotrophic plate count no greater than 100 colony-forming units per millilitre in a 100 ml sample, while Prairie Winds counts ranged from 1,500 to 2,440 units.
In 2023, the same E. coli strain led to a major outbreak in Calgary across 17 daycares, resulting in hundreds of children getting sick.
Symptoms include dehydration and diarrhea, although most people with a healthy immune system who contract it have a swift recovery. However, some cases have led to hospitalizations.
AHS is recommending that anyone experiencing such symptoms call 811 or see a primary care provider. They are also to limit close contact with anyone at higher risk of severe illness, including seniors, young children, and the immunocompromised.
The best way to avoid contraction is by regularly washing your hands and maintaining proper sanitation during meal preparation.